Your gateway to Dubai

Climate
Dubai has a sub-tropical arid climate with temperatures ranging from 10 degrees to a high of 48 degrees celsius

What to wear
Men and women wear a loose-fitting full-length garment called kandoura or dishdasha Mostly in white men also wear a cap called gahfia or tagia covered by gutra a long cloth Women may cover their faces also Visitors can wear light-weight garments in summer and light jacket sweaters in winter Revealing styles may be offensive to the local population of Muslims Swim-suits are OK for beaches and pools Take sunglass and a hat in the summer

Culture, Language and Religion
The official language is Arabic English is spoken Islam is the official religion Other religions are respected Ramadan is the holy month of fasting from dawn to dusk Visitors also are expected not to eat or drink during day in this period A notable feature of life in modern Dubai is its night life Hotels have bars and pubs There are discotheques and Arabic night clubs Foreign cuisine aplenty Souks markets are an attraction for travellers Dubai is a travellers stop-over too

Currency, Departure Taxes and Visas
UAE Dirham South African passport holders require a visa Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after your return to South Africa

Local Time
2 hours ahead of South Africa